New Delhi/Ahmedabad: Congress leader and Political Secretary Ahmed Patel tonight emerged victorious in the crucial Rajya Sabha elections from Gujarat. A jubilant Ahmed Patel said, while the MLAs have voted for an "inclusive India", the victory will help Congress fight the Gujarat elections due in November-December. "BJP stands exposed of personal vendetta and political terror.

People of Gujarat will give them a befitting reply in this year's election. "This is not just my victory. It is a defeat of the most blatant use of money power,muscle power and abuse of state machinery," Mr Patel said in a series of tweets. Initial reports from Gandhinagar suggested that Mr Patel polled the required 44 votes to retain his Rajya Sabha seat. "I want to thank each and every MLA who voted for me despite unprecedented intimidation & pressure from BJP. They voted for an inclusive India," he said. Even as BJP could not stall Mr Ahmed Patel's re-entry into the Rajya Sabha, the saffron party nominees Amit Shah and Smriti Irani also won their seats. (UNI)